German government lowers GDP forecast again - Handelsblatt

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany’s federal government internally revised its growth outlook for Europe’s biggest economy in 2019 to 0.8 percent, the second revision in less than two months, business daily Handelsblatt said on Monday, citing a government document.

“Internally, the Federal Government is only expecting 0.8 percent growth in 2019,” Handelsblatt cited a confidential note of the finance ministry as saying.

A weakening world economy, risks such as an escalation of trade conflicts, and political risks in Europe such as Brexit and Italy’s financial situation were reasons for the economic slowdown the note had mentioned, Handelsblatt said.